Pressure regulator



p 1953 T. A. ST. CLAIR 2,653,793

PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed July 24, 1952 22 I I 14 24 az 22- Zj I m: 2 2452 INVENTOR.

TTOR/VEYS Patented Sept. 29, 1953 PRESSURE RE GULATOR Theodore A. St.Clair, South Euclid, Ohio, assignor to The Weatherhead Company,Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 24, 1952, SerialNo. 300,675

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a valve mounting assembly in general and isparticularly adapted to poppet valve mounting assemblies employed influid pressure regulators or the like. r

The Valves adapted for use in fluid pressure regulators normally embodya Construction wherein the closure or valve member is slidably mountedin a bore for motion toward or away from a valve seat in the bore. Thevalve member is usually actuated by a bellcrank lever assembly pivotedto the valve at one zone and to the body of the assembly at another zoneand has an eX- tension for engaging a diaphragm or other operatingdevice.

The valve assembly disclosed herein is particularly adapted for use inconjuncticn with fluid pressure regulators wherein it is eitherundesirable or impossible to open the regulator body itself. One of thetypes of regulators wherein it is impossible to open the body isdescribed in the co-pending application Serial No. 244, 631, filedAugust 31,1951.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a valve assemblyand actuator which may be assembled through an opening or body inlet.

A further object of this invention is to provide simplified Constructionand assembly of a pivoted valve and more specifically a valve of thetype employed in the uid pressure regulator of the diaphragm variety.

Another object of the invention resides in the reduction of the weightof the moving valve parts which, in some applications such as pressureregulators, improves the sensitivity of the regulators. such weightreduction is characteristic of the type of assembly just referred to asthe preferred embodment of the invention.

'The advantages of economy of Construction and Simplicity of assemblyare disclosed in a preferred embodiment of the invention which providesa quick attachable and detachable mounting for a pivoted lever mountedon the valve member which has opposed ears. One of the ears pivots in aninternal groove formed in the valve housing and the other slides througha fixed slot which arrangement facilitates alignment, assembly anddisassembly of the parts without the use of special tools.

- In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a complete regulator assemblecl inaccordance with the invention showing the valve in the open position;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the valve member and lever unit;

. Fig. 3 is a section taken at 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing a preferred crosssection of the valve member; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a complete regulator assembled inaccordance with the in- Vention wherein the valve is shown in its closedposition.

As seen in Fig. l, the invention is shown in stalled in a fluid pressureregulator having a main housing member li) and a bonnet or cap i lformed of sheet metal. A diaphragm |2 is clamped between these membersforming the usual pres'- sure or regulating chamber and the protectedatmosphere chamber having a vent !5. Brazed or otherwise fastened tomember 10 is a valve housing member l3 which is tubular in form havingan internal fiange l t substantially radial to the axis of the 'tube atthe internal end. Detachably attached to the valve housing 13 is thevalve body &6 which has an axial bore for conduction of fluid into thepressure chamber. This bore is formed With a restricted nozzle IT and anenlarged bore portion IB for receiving the valve member. A valve seat 69is iormed within the bore !8. Slidable in the bore !8 is a non-circularpoppet or valve member 21 which is arranged to permit fluid to flow pastthe member when the valve is open. A relatively soft scaling member 22is carried by the valve member for making scaling engagement with thevalve seat [9.

- The valve housing is siotted as at 23 for reception of a thin levermember 24 pivoted to the valve member by a pin 26. In the assembledposition a curved projection or ear 21 is formed on the lever 24 whichts within an annular groove 28 2 formed within the housing !3 by the endface 29 of the valve body I'B in cooperation with the fiange l4.Rotation of the valve member 2! and lever about the axis of the valvemember is prevented by a diametrically-opposed ear or prejection 31which slides within the slot 23 formed in the ange M of the housing. Theslot 23 is substantially equal in width to the thickness of the leverportion 31. The manner of assembly of these parts will be explained indetail presently.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the lever 24 has anextension 32 for actuation by the regulator structure. As is customary,an outlet port 33 is provided in member n. The actuating structureincludes a hacking plate 34 for protecting the diaphragm !2, thediaphragm being urged in a direction which opens the valve by means of aspring 36. A post 37 is mounted for motion with the diaphragm and servesto connect the latter to the valve actuating lever 24 by means of anaperture 38 through which the arm extension 32 is inserted.

In the embodiment illustrated it should be noted that no special toolsare required to assemble and disassemble the valve assembly since theentire operation is performed by the mere removal of the valve body,which, in turn, permits the valve member and the bellcrank lever to belifted out of the regulator. To assemble the valve one merely insertsthe lever and valve member 2! in the valve housing so that the leverextension 32 is inserted through the aperture 38 mthe post 31. Since theear 3l must slide into the slot 23 in order to assemble this mechanismall the parts will be automatically oriented. The valve body is thenscrewed into place and assembly is complete.

Although the valve is particularly adapted for use in connection withpressure regulators wherein the diaphragm is permanently attached theassembly and disassembly is so simple that it is well suited to othertypes of pressure regulators or other types of valves.

Although one form of my invention is here disclosed in considerabledetail it will be understood that those skilled in the art may vary suchdetails without departing from the scope of the invention as set forthin the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A poppet valve comprised of a body assembly and a poppet assemblysaid body assembly composed of a valve housing formed with an axialpassage and an internal substantially radial fiange, and a valve bodyformed with an axial passage and an end face which in cooperation withsaid fiange forms an internal recess With axially spacedsubstantially-radial walls, said body assembly being formed with asubstantially radial slot providing circumferentally spacedsubstantially radial walls, said poppet assembly 4 being composed of avalve poppet slidable in said body passage, and a poppet lever having acircumferentially spaced ear portion positioned between and axiallylocated by said axially spaced substantially radial walls of saidrecess, said poppet assembly having a second circumferentially locatedear portion positioned between and being circumferentially located bysaid circumferentially spaced substantially radial walls.

2. A poppet valve assembly comprising a hous- I ing member formed withan axial passage, an internal flange and a substantially radial slot insaid fiange providing circumferentially spaced substantially radialwalls, a valve body with an end face which in cooperation with said angeforms an internal recess within the housing member providing axiallyspaced substantially radial walls, said valve body formed With an axialpassage With a valve seat disposed therein, a valve poppet reciprocablein said passage for engaging said seat, and a valve lever pivoted tosaid poppet, said lever having circumferentially spaced ear portions,one of said ear portions being positioned between and axially located bythe axially spaced substantially radial walls of said recess, the otherear portion extending between and being circumferentially located by thecircumferentially spaced substantially radial walls of said slot.

3. A poppet valve assembly comprising an annular housing member formedwith an internal fiange and a substantially radial slot in said flangeproviding circumferentially spaced substantially radial walls, a valvebody having an end wall which in cooperation with said flange forms aninternal annular groove within the housing member providing axiallyspaced substantially radial walls, said valve body formed with an axialpassage with a valve seat disposed therein, a valve poppet reciprocablein said passage for engaging said seat, and a valve lever pivoted tosaid poppet, said lever having circumferentially spaced ear portions,one of said ear portion: being positioned between and axially located bythe axially spaced substantiany radial walls of said groove, the otherear portion extending between and being circumferentially located bythecircumferentially spaced substantially radial walls of said slot.

4; A poppet valve assembly comprising an annular housing member formedwith an internal fiange and a snbstantially radial slot in said flangeproviding circumferentially spaced, substantially radial walls, a valvebody having an end wall which in cooperation with said fiange forms aninternal annular groove within the housing member providing axiallyspaced substantially radial walls, said valve body formed with an axia'lbore with a valve seat disposed therein, a valve poppet reciprocable insaid bore for engaging said seat, and a valve lever pivoted to saidpoppet', said lever having circumferentially spaced ear portions, one ofsaid ear portions' being positioned between and axially located by theaxially spaced substantially radial walls of. said groove, the other earportion extending between and being circumferentially located by thecircumferentially spaced substantially radialwalls of said slot, saidlever having an elongated shank generally patallel to the axis of saidbore for engagement with a regulator dlaphragm member.

5. For use in a regulatohaving a pressure chamber partially bounded by aspring-loaded diaphragm means, inlet and outlet ports for said chamber,a poppet valve assembly' located in said inlet port comprising anannular housing member having an internal fiange and a substantiallyradial slot in said fiange providing circumferentially spacedsubstantially radial walls, a valve body having an end wall which incooperation' with said fiange form an internal annular groove within thehousing member providing axially spaced substantially radial walls, saidvalve body' having a bore' with a valve seat disposed therein, a valvepoppet reciprocable in said bore for engaging said seat, and a valvelever pivoted to said poppet, said lever having circumferentially spacedear portions, one of said ear portions being posltioned between andaxially located by the axially spaced substantially radial walls of saidgroove,

, the other ear portion extending between and' being circumferentiallylocated by the circumterentially spaced substantially radial walls ofsaid slot, said lever having an elongated shank generally parallel tothe axis of said bore for engagement with a regulator diaphragm member.

6. A poppet valve assembly comprising an annular housing member havingan internal flange and a substantially radial slot in said flangeproviding circumferentially spaced substantially radial walls, a valvebody having an end wall which in cooperation with said flange forms aninternal annular groove within the housing member providing axiallyspaced substantially radial walls, said valve body formed with a passagewith a valve seat disposed therein, a valve poppet for controlling fluidflow through said passageway reciprocable in said passage tor engagingsaid seat, and a valve lever pivoted to said poppet, said lever havingcircumferentially spaced ear portions, one of said ear portions beingpositioned between and axially located by the axially spacedsubstantially radial walls of said groove, the other ear portionextending between and being circumferentially located by thecircumferentially spaced substantially radial walls of said slot.

'7. A poppet valve assembly comprising an annular housing member havingan internal fiange and a substantially radial slot in said flangeproviding circumferentially spaced substantially 'adial walls, a valvebody having an end face which in cooperation with said fiange forms aninternal annular groove within the housing member providing axiallyspaced substantially radial walls, said valve body formed with a passagewith a valve seat disposed therein, a valve poppet reciprocable in saidpassage having means for engaging said seat, and a valve lever pivotedto said poppet, said lever having oircumferentially spaced ear portions,one of said ear portions being positioned between and axially located bythe axially spaced substantially radial walls of said groove, the otherear portion extending between and being circumferentially located by thecircumferentially spaced substantially radial walls of said slot.

8. A poppet valve assembly comprising an annular housing member havingan internal flange and a substantially radial slot in said fiangeproviding circumferentially spaced substantially radial walls, a valvebody with an end face which in cooperation with said fiang forms aninternal annular groove within the housing member providing axiallyspaced substantially radial walls, said valve body formed with an axialbore With a valve seat disposed therein, said bore having a diameter nogreater than the diameter of the aperture formed by said flange, a valvepoppet reciprocable in said bore for engaging said seat, and a valvelever pivoted to said poppet, said lever having ciroumferentially spacedear portions, one of said ear portions being positioned between andaxially located by the axially .spaced substantially radial walls ofsaid groove, the other ear portion extending between and beingcircumferentially located by the circumferentially spaoed substantiallyradial walls of said slot.

9. A poppet valve assembly comprising an internally threaded housingmember formed with an internal fiange, said fiange being provided with aslot, a valve body threaded into said housing member, a movable valvemember in said body, an actuating lever pivoted to said member,

said lever having a portion projecting through said slot and a portionengaging the end wall of said body and one side of said flange, saidengagement of said lever, body and flange being radially spaced from thepivot of said lever and member.

THEODORE A. ST. CLAIR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,052,246 Ray r Aug. 25, 1936 2,517,745 Weatherhead Aug. 8,1950 2,616,659 Grahling Nov. 4, 1952

